You lot will like this one !! One of the lads at work decided to ask an " intellectual " question:

"How good is Richard Claydermann ?" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is he trying to wind me up ?
or just plain stupid/ignorant etc.

QUOTE (Yorkie @ Apr 16 2005, 08:55 AM)

You lot will like this one !! One of the lads at work decided to ask an " intellectual " question: "How good is Richard Cladermann ?" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is he trying to wind me up ? or just plain stupid/ignorant etc.

He was quite good at playing arpeggios - not sure what else.

Musical wallpaper.

How good is Yanni? Ha Ha Ha.

QUOTE (George Burrell @ Apr 16 2005, 09:10 AM)

"How good is Richard Cladermann ?" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is he trying to wind me up ? or just plain stupid/ignorant etc. [/QUOTE] He was quite good at playing arpeggios - not sure what else. Musical wallpaper.

Is Richard Claydermann good? Did your friend ask you on 1st April??

I suppose he's ok as 'wallpaper' - someting to half listen to in a busy restaurant etc!

[QUOTE=noodle,Apr 16 2005, 10:10 AM] [QUOTE=George Burrell,Apr 16 2005, 09:10 AM] "How good is Richard Claydermann ?" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is he trying to wind me up ?
or just plain stupid/ignorant etc. [/QUOTE]
He was quite good at playing arpeggios - not sure what else.

Musical wallpaper.

[/QUOTE]
Is Richard Claydermann good? Did your friend ask you on 1st April??

I suppose he's ok as 'wallpaper' - someting to half listen to in a busy restaurant etc! [/QUOTE]
Ha ha !!
The thing that made me laugh was that on a recent GMTV interview i heard him say that he turned profesional when he was 12 !!

QUOTE (Yorkie @ Apr 16 2005, 01:32 PM)

The thing that made me laugh was that on a recent GMTV interview i heard him say that he turned proffesional when he was 12 !!

Professional what?

Who is he?

QUOTE

Who is he?

That's what I was thinking....

QUOTE (Saxophonist @ Apr 16 2005, 08:31 PM)

Who is he?

A pianist... Also, am I right in thinking he played the theme tune of Eastenders?

How old must Richard Clayderman be??
I certainly remember him but my teenage children certainly don't!
Time moves on - remember Andy Warhol and the "15 minutes of fame"
[BTW who's Andy Warhol?????]

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Apr 16 2005, 08:46 PM)

A pianist... Also, am I right in thinking he played the theme tune of Eastenders?

that man has a lot to answer for

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Apr 16 2005, 08:46 PM)

Also, am I right in thinking he played the theme tune of Eastenders?

What? He can play the theme of EastEnders. He must have learnt to play scales as well as arpeggios then.

I don't really like him that much...many of my female Asian friends do but I think he's not playing music in the original way....ie. he changes other composers music and make it "his way" of playing.And also, he should play his own compositions which he does not play at all !! Overall, he's just too famous.....for some reasons.

Well I have to disagree, as he is a great pianist, he may not play constant Beethoven or Mozart, but he is an excellent professional. He has been my inspiration for playing the piano for the last 14 years, so I feel a little insulted that you all feel like this.

I agree that he does his own compositions of pieces, but that's what makes him different, to experiment and see how he can change things.

And for your information, there are cds where he plays classical music, which I have found to be very impressive.

I totally agree with you joyjoy. I really like Richard Clayderman's music. He has his own style of playing, and he's really brilliant at the arpeggios (ha! even after 'finding Neverland' i will not be able to play them that well). I love his version of Don't Cry for Me Argentina. But i don't like his way of Fur Elise. I think the most famous pieces in the world should be played in its original form, of course with one's own way of louds and softs.
But on the whole, he's a brilliant pianist.
Cheers!!!
Tanmoy

QUOTE (tanmoy_22 @ Apr 17 2005, 07:36 AM)

I totally agree with you joyjoy. I really like Richard Clayderman's music. He has his own style of playing, and he's really brilliant at the arpeggios (ha! even after 'finding Neverland' i will not be able to play them that well). I love his version of Don't Cry for Me Argentina. But i don't like his way of Fur Elise. I think the most famous pieces in the world should be played in its original form, of course with one's own way of louds and softs. But on the whole, he's a brilliant pianist. Cheers!!! Tanmoy

Hi Tanmoy!

Glad to find someone who feels like me!
I agree about Fur Elise, however when I was learning when I was younger I used to play along with the cds, and I do it even more so now, as he provides a great piano player to play along to with the flute or violin. I must admit my style of playing has stemmed from his style, so I will be forever greatful for his music.

I'd like to see if there are any more of us out there!

Joy

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Apr 16 2005, 08:46 PM)

QUOTE (Saxophonist @ Apr 16 2005, 08:31 PM) Who is he? A pianist... Also, am I right in thinking he played the theme tune of Eastenders?

You mean suppose to be one of the worlds best pianists who is a household name.

but don't you guys think that he's too famous??
like...over'famoused ??

QUOTE (pianist_1210 @ Apr 17 2005, 09:26 AM)

but don't you guys think that he's too famous?? like...over'famoused ??

No, not at all.

I'd like to know how he can be overfamous when half the people here don't know who he is.

I love to hear Richard Clayderman play, mostly whatever he plays. (And I was thrilled to get a signed program from him as well!)

QUOTE (pianist_1210 @ Apr 17 2005, 06:07 AM)

I don't really like him that much...many of my female Asian friends do but I think he's not playing music in the original way....ie. he changes other composers music and make it "his way" of playing.And also, he should play his own compositions which he does not play at all !! Overall, he's just too famous.....for some reasons.

Variations are a time honoured compositional technique - lots of 'great' composers took themes by other people and worked them into their own pieces.
As to playing his own compositions, don't see anyone coming down hard on Ashkenazy for not writing his own material

I personally find Clayderman over sentimental and a bit foppish - but he can tinkle the ivories, and give a good performance, so it's just me being snobbish I suppose!

I personally can't stand Richard Clayderman....talk about naff! I remember at some point 20-odd years ago one kept hearing this annoying tune called Adeline's ballade or something....UGH!

And if you truly think he's a great pianist, then I'm sorry but IMHO you can't have listened to many (any?) or the truly (universally acknowledged) great pianists of the 20th century available on CD!

All I remember of him is the long blond hair, beaming sickly smile, white piano I think? That was back in the 80s when I was a student-I assume he looks just the same?

http://www.clayderman.co.uk/home_page.htm

For the fans....

QUOTE (lafrog @ Apr 17 2005, 04:58 PM)

And if you truly think he's a great pianist, then I'm sorry but IMHO you can't have listened to many (any?) or the truly (universally acknowledged) great pianists of the 20th century available on CD!

I've listened to a wide enough range to make judgements thank you. There is a lot of cheesy stuff out there to be honest, only a few good ones to listen to, Clayderman included.

QUOTE (uberzoldat @ Apr 17 2005, 04:46 PM)

I'd like to know how he can be overfamous when half the people here don't know who he is. I love to hear Richard Clayderman play, mostly whatever he plays. (And I was thrilled to get a signed program from him as well!)

Yeah I got two signed photos from him too and won a Japanese programme from his tour, I was thrilled too!